Sigma BF Review (2026): Eccentric but Strangely Lovable

Then there’s missing removable storage. Yes, I would love a card; It’s very easy to swap cards in the field. But the BF has 256 gigabytes of built-in storage. I can’t think of the last time I took enough photos to fill that much space on my laptop before having to go back to download them. That said, 256-gigabyte storage is plenty for a non-professional photographer.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

The main deal-breaker for me is the lack of a viewfinder. I still prefer to shoot through the viewfinder. It’s just muscle memory – hand me a camera, and I’ll bring it to my eye. If you also like the viewfinder, this is not the camera for you.

Another problem with the lack of a viewfinder is that the rear screen is almost unusable in bright sunlight. It is too dark to compose accurately. The rear screen doesn’t tilt or move at all, which means if you like to shoot from the hip, you won’t be able to use it at all. If you want to get an unusual angle, for example from the ground, be prepared to lie down to frame it.

You can turn the screen brightness all the way up, which helps a bit when it’s in the sun, but it’s still difficult to use in broad daylight. Increasing the screen brightness all the way also drains the already short battery life. Sigma claims the BF can shoot around 260 images on a single charge, but that drops significantly if you have to turn on the screen in daylight. I was finding that in bright sunlight, I would rarely get more than two to three hours of shooting time on a single charge.

Should you buy it?

It might seem like the Sigma BF has some serious limitations, and it does, especially when you compare the specifications to other cameras in the BF’s $2,200 price range. However, limitations can be a good thing. Without boundaries, you have nothing to build upon. This is not a camera with a “spray and pray” style of shooting. Using this camera well requires some thought. For this it is necessary to keep in mind your limitations and work within them. If you do this, the BF is capable of producing stunning images.

Although I wouldn’t recommend the Sigma BF for most people, there’s no doubt that there are photographers who will love it not in spite of, but because of, the quirky design choices. I fully expect this to be one of those cameras that will develop a cult following in 20 years.

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